Mute for trumpets or like instruments



July 8, 1941. G. B. HUMES v MUTE FOR TRUMPETS OR LIKE INSTRUMENTS FiledDec .v 14, 1939 Patented July 8, 1941 UNITED. STATES PATENT OFFICE MUTEFOR TRUMPETS OR LEKE INSTRUMENTS 9 Claims.

This invention relates to mutes for wind instruments, such as trumpets,cornets and trombones, and one object of the invention is to provide aconstruction designed to produce a relatively mellow and pleasing mutedtone. Another object is to provide an improved construction forproducing certain special effects, and a further object is to secure thedesired contour of the mute by a special construction adapted forconvenient and economical manufacture. Other objects will appear as thedescription proceeds. The invention consists in the various features andelements of construction in combination, as herein shown and describedand as indicated by the claims.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a mute embodying this invention, with abell of a trumpet shown in dotted outline in its operative relation tothe mute.

Fig. 2 is an axial section showing internal details of construction.

Fig. 3 is a transaxial section taken as indi cated at line 3-3 on Fig.2.

Fig. 4 is a transaxial section taken as indicated at line 44 on Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a perspective View partly in section, showing the adjustablesupporting plug for the mute.

Fig. 6 is a rear elevation showing a modified construction.

Fig. 7 is a rear elevation showing another modification.

The mute which is the subject of this invention is shown as a compositedevice, capable of various uses, but it may be understood that some ofthe features may be employed separately and not necessarily in thecomplete combination shown. As illustrated, the body portion I is oftapering or conical form, and is preferably composed of the fiber boardor similarly flexible sheet material, bent into shape and glued at thenecessary joints. At the small end of the cone, which is open, I providea metallic reinforcing ring 2, and at the larger end the body I deviatesfrom a strictly conical form in that the terminal portion 3 is ofslightly enlarged diameter, and is connected with the remainder of thebody by a shoulder 4, as seen in Fig. 2. This form may be secured bydipping the larger end of the conical body I in liquid and allowing itto swell, then inserting a metallic reinforcing ring 5, and permittingthe material of the cone to shrink as it dries, with the result that theterminal portion fits tightly around the ring 5, while the adjacentconnecting portion forms the sloping shoulder 4, joining the enlargement3 with the conical body. A convex header or end wallfi is inserted inthe enlarged portion 3 and seated against the edge of the ring 5 whichforms a stop shoulder for this purpose.

Within the hollow conical body I, I provide a plurality of releasetubes, preferably of metal and wrapped with rubber or fabric tape orother vibration-absorbing material 8. As shown, there are three of thesetubes, I l and 'I arranged in a cluster near the smaller end of theconical body I and diverging toward the end wall 6 through which theyextend. Preferably, the three tubes l 1 and I are of different lengths;apparently, in this way, they serve to release a wider range ofvibrations. At the smaller end of the body I, they do not occupy thefull diameter of the space, but they are rigidly positioned by theengagement of their opposite ends in the wall 6. These end portions maybe slightly swelled or swaged to anchor them firmly, the wrappings 8forming shoulders abutting the inner face of the wall to cooperate inproviding a rigid housing for the tubes.

The mute is designed to be held frictionally in the tapering portion ofthe instrument adjacent the bell substantially as indicated by thedotted outline of the instrument at A in Fig. 1. It is required that theconical body I be spaced away from the tapering portion A of theinstrument to provide a limited outlet for sound around the mute, andthe body is therefore supported in position by radially extending blocksof cork or like material, secured to the outer surface of the conicalpart I and contacting the inner surface of the tapered part A Ifdesired, these radially extending blocks 9 may be made integral withannular portions it, which thus connect them in spaced relation so thatthe spaces between the blocks 9 afford a limited outlet for the soundwaves produced in the instrument. For a purpose about to be described Imay provide two rings Ill with projecting blocks 9, spaced apartlongitudinally on the conical body I with a third ring H disposedbetween them, and similarly formed with projecting blocks I2, whichextend for contact with the tapering tube A of the instrument. The ringsI!) and blocks 9 are rigidly secured as by gluing or cementing them tothe surface of the mute body I, but the ring II is left free forrotative adjustment between the two rings In so that the passageways forair may be varied, or even closed completely by shifting the blockportions I2 into registration or partial registration with the spacesbetween the blocks 9, as seen in Fig. 5.

For improving and mellowing the muted tone of the instrument I prefer tomount on the enlarged end portion 3 of the conical body a reverselydisposed bell or cup I3, which opens toward the bell of the instrumentA, as seen in Fig. l. The bell I3 is formed with a shoulder I4,intermediate its ends, and a ring I seated against the shoulder I4partially closes the annular space between the bell I3 and the body I ofthe mute. This forms a resonance chamber I5, which noticeably affectsthe quality of the tone produced by the instrument when a mute of thistype is employed. As will be noted from Fig. 1, the eX- treme mouth I!of the bell I3 is of smaller diameter than the adjacent portion of thebell of the instrument so as to leave an annular space, indicated at I8,for the escape of the sound as modified by the mute. In order to securethe full effect of the resonance chamber I6, the ad-- justable blocks I2will be shifted to provide the maximum passage by way of the spacesbetween the blocks 9.

Figs. 2 and 3 show the ring or annular partition I5 mounted in contactwith the bell I3, leaving an annular clearance space at I9 between thering and the body I. However, if desired, the ring I5 may beproportioned to fit snugly onto the conical body I, as shown in Fig. 6,leaving a clearance gap between the outer edge of the ring I5 and theinner surface of the bell I3. And, as a further modification, Fig. 7shows a ring 2!, which is fitted snugly between the body I and the bellI3, so as to contact with both of said parts, and the clearance spacefor transmission of the vibration is then afforded by a series ofapertures 22 in the ring 2|, spaced at intervals around it.

To secure an entirely diiferent effect from that produced by the bellI3, the passages around the mute body I may be closed entirely byshifting the ring II to register its blocks I2 with the spaces betweenthe blocks 9. Then the only available passageways for the vibrating aircolumn are afforded by the opening 2, in the end of the body I and therelease tubes 1. These tubes, being of relatively small diameter, tendto break up and weaken the force of the tone, but permit the escape of alimited amount of sound of modified quality. To produce a socalled wowefiect, the performer momentarily shuts off the release tubes Ientirely, as by placing his hand over the end of the mute, and tofacilitate the production of this effect I prefer to secure to the endof the mute an extension ring 23, having an inturned flange 24 whichleaves a large central opening 25 in a plane spaced away slightly fromthe open ends of the tubes I in the wall 5. The performer may easilyclose the opening 25 with the flat of his hand placed against the flange24; then, by suddenly removing his hand and replacing it at frequentintervals, he will easily and simply produce the desired wow effect.

When a plurality of release tubes is employed, as in the presentstructure, the provision of the flanged cap 23 enables the performer tocontrol the open ends of the tubes more easily than if he attempted tocover them all simultaneously with his hand for the purpose of thiseffect; therefore, the flange 23 is shown permanently attached to thebody I of the mute. But the bell l3 may be frictionally secured byengagement of its smaller end portion 25 on the enlargement 3 at the endof the body I, the ring or collar 23 serving as a stop against which thebell is lodged but from which it may be separated for removal over thesmall end of the mute body I, if desired.

I claim:

1. A mute comprising a hollow body of tapered form open at the smallerend and having a transverse wall at its larger end and a plurality ofrelease tubes of relatively small bore open at both ends, groupedtogether within the body near the smaller end thereof and extendingdivergently toward the larger end of the hollow body and through saidwall, a collar mounted on the larger end of the mute and having aninturned flange spaced from the open ends of the release tubes andproviding a large central opening opposite the said transverse wall ofthe mute.

2. A mute comprising a hollow body of tapered form adapted for insertionin the bell of a wind instrument, said mute having a reversely directedbell secured to its larger end and opening toward the smaller end of themute with a transverse annular partition disposed intermediate the endsof the bell and partially closing the space between the hollow body andthe bell but providing limited clearance for access of air to thechamber formed by the conical wall of the mute in combination with saidbell and partition 3. A mute comprising a hollow body of tapered formadapted for insertion in the bell of a wind instrument, said mute havinga reversely directed bell secured to its larger end and opening towardthe smaller end of the mute, said bell supporting an annular transversepartition extending toward but not into contact with the corn icalsurface of the mute, providing clearance space between the edge of thepartition and said conical body and forming a resonance chamber aroundthe mute and within the bell.

4. A mute comprising a hollow body of tapered form adapted for insertionin the bell of a wind instrument, said mute having a reversely directedbell secured to its larger end and opening toward the smaller end of themute, and an annular partition attached to the conical body at a pointintermediate the ends of the bell extending toward but not into contactwith the bell, thus affording a clearance space between its edge and thewall of the bell leading to the chamber which is enclosed by thepartition, the cone and the bell.

5. A mute comprising a hollow body of tapered form with a bell securedto the larger end of said body and flaring therefrom toward the smallerend, a transverse partition partially closing the space between the belland said body portion of the mute, and spacing blocks for supporting thesmaller end in a trumpet or like instrument, said blocks extendingradially from the tapered body of the mute and being spaced apartcircumferentially forming passages between the mute and the instrumentwall, said blocks bein adjustable in circumferential extent to vary thecapacity of said passages.

6. A mute comprising a hollow body of tapered form with a bell securedto the larger end of said body and flaring therefrom toward the smallerend, a transverse partition partially closing the space between the belland said body portion of the mute, a series of spacing blocks fixed tothe body of the mute and extending radially therefrom for contact withthe wall of a trumpet or like instrument, said blocks being spaced apartcircumferentially afiording passages for sound, and a second series ofspacing blocks arranged as a unit for rotation upon the body of the muteadjacent the first series and thus adjustable for overlapping the spacesbetween the first series of blocks to vary the capacity of saidpassages.

7. A mute comprising a hollow body of tapered form open at the smallerend and having a transverse wall at its larger end, a plurality ofrelease tubes of relatively small bore open at both ends and extendingfrom within the hollow body through the transverse wall at the largerend, a collar extending from the larger end and supporting a transverseflange in spaced relation to said end wall, a bell secured to the largerend of said hollow body and flaring toward the smaller end, togetherwith a transverse partition partially enclosing a space between the belland the wall of the tapered body, and supporting blocks on the bodyarranged to center the mute within the wall of a trumpet or likeinstrument, said blocks being spaced circumferentially from each otherto form passages for sound and being adjustable in circumferentialextent to close the passages thus formed between the instrument wall andthe mute.

8. A mute comprising a hollow body of tapered form open at the smallerend and having a transverse wall at its larger end, and a plurality ofrelease tubes of relatively small bore and each of a different lengthopen at both ends and extending from within the hollow body through thetransverse wall at the larger end.

9. A mute comprising a hollow body of tapered form open at the smallerend and having a transverse wall at its larger end, and a plurality ofrelease tubes of relatively small bore open at both ends extending fromsaid transverse wall and terminating within the body at differentdistances respectively from the smaller end.

GUY B. HUMES.

